Gooey Caramel Turtle Bark Food

CHEWY CARAMEL TURTLE BARK

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the pecan halves across the paper in a single layer. Set the tray of pecans near the stove. Combine the butter, sugar, honey, milk and salt in a heavy bottomed saucepan or deep skillet over medium heat. When the mixture has melted together and is smooth, increase the heat to medium high and continue stirring constantly with a heat-proof spatula or wooden spoon. The mixture should come to a rolling boil. Let it cook until the temperature reaches 230-235 degrees. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Pour the caramel mixture over the pecans in an even layer. Use a spatula to spread it across if needed. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or so, until the caramel is cool. Melt the chocolate and the oil in a small mixing bowl in the microwave, 50% power for 2-2 1/2 minutes, stopping to stir after the first minute and then every 30 seconds as needed. When most of the chocolate has melted and you are able to stir it, remove from the microwave and stir until smooth. It will continue melting as it rests.
• Pour the chocolate over the top of the caramel and pecans and spread across the caramel with a spatula. Chill in the refrigerator an additional 30 minutes, until the chocolate is firm. Remove from the refrigerator and use the parchment paper to lift the bark onto a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to slice into pieces. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

CHEWY CARAMEL TURTLE BARK

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the pecan halves across the paper in a single layer. Set the tray of pecans near the stove. Combine the butter, sugar, honey, milk and salt in a heavy bottomed saucepan or deep skillet over medium heat. When the mixture has melted together and is smooth, increase the heat to medium high and continue stirring constantly with a heat proof spatula or wooden spoon. The mixture should come to a rolling boil. Let it cook until the temperature reaches 230-235 degrees, this took less than 5 minutes on my stove. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Pour the caramel mixture over the pecans in an even layer. Use a spatula to spread it across if needed. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or so, until the caramel is cool. Melt the chocolate and the oil in a small mixing bowl in the microwave. 50% power for 2 - 2 1/2 minutes, stopping to stir after the first minute and then every 30 seconds as needed. When most of the chocolate has melted and you are able to stir it, remove from the microwave and stir until smooth, it will continue melting as it rests.
• Pour the chocolate over the top of the caramel and pecans and spread across the caramel with a spatula. Chill in the refrigerator an additional 30 minutes, until the chocolate is firm. Remove from the refrigerator and use the parchment paper to lift the bark onto a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to slice into pieces. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

GOOEY CARAMEL TURTLE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F Line bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with foil. Combine flour, sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in medium bowl. Stir in melted butter until soft dough forms. Press dough over bottom of pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Spray sides of foil above crust with cooking spray to prevent caramel from sticking.
• Combine brown sugar, honey, 1/4 cup water and scant 1/2 teaspoon salt in large wide saucepan. Add 1/4 cup butter; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with silicone spatula and scraping corners and bottom of pan as butter melts. From time to time, scrape mixture off spatula against top edge of pan and scrape sides of pan clean. Reduce heat to a moderate boil; stir and scrape pan 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved.
• Stir in sweetened condensed milk; return to a boil, stirring constantly and scraping sides, corners and bottom of pan. (Adjust heat so mixture boils actively but not too furiously.) Continue stirring and cooking 9 to 12 minutes or until mixture reaches 235°F Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
• Pour over crust; tilt baking pan to level caramel. Sprinkle with pecans and chocolate; let stand until caramel is cool and chocolate is set.
• Lift foil to remove bars from pan. Remove foil; cut into bars. (Bars can be made 3 days ahead. Store in an airtight container.)
• TIP *To toast pecans, place on baking sheet; bake at 350°F for 6 to 8 minutes or until slightly darker in color. Cool.

OOEY GOOEY CARAMEL CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray with flour.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, flour, water, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in 1/2 cup of the toffee bits. Pour into pan.
• Reserve 1/2 cup dulce de leche. Spoon remaining dulce de leche by teaspoonfuls onto batter.
• Bake 34 to 42 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. In small microwavable bowl, microwave reserved dulce de leche on High 10 to 15 seconds or until softened; spread evenly over top of cake. Sprinkle with remaining toffee bits. Cool about 1 hour before serving. Top each serving with whipped cream and caramel topping.

GOOEY CARAMEL CHOCOLATE BARS

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips and caramels with 1/3 cup milk. Stir in nuts. Remove from the heat and set aside. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, butter and remaining milk; pat half into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 7-10 minutes. Spread chocolate/caramel mixture over crust; top with reserved cake mixture. Bake 12-15 minutes longer.

GOOEY CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup sugar in a stainless saucepan on medium heat, do not stir until sugar begins to melt.
• Once sugar begins to melt, stir it until it has completely melted and begins to turn golden brown.
• When sugar has started to turn caramel colored, remove pan from heat and immediately add butter and brown sugar and quickly stir together.
• Once the butter and brown sugar are completely melded with the caramel (add gentle heat if needed to incorporate brown sugar), add the vanilla, corn syrup, cream and salt.
• Stir together well.
• The caramel will thicken as it cools.
• If a thinner caramel is required, add water one tablespoon at a time until the desired thickness is reached; if a thicker caramel is needed, reduce the amount of corn syrup used.

GOOEY CARAMEL TURTLE BARK

Steps:

• Line a 15x10x1" cookie sheet with wax paper.
• Pour chocolate chips into a medium-sized bowl and microwave for 45 seconds, stir, then return to the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until completely melted and smooth (you may need to throw it back into the microwave for another 30 seconds- it really just depends on the strength of your microwave). Pour melted chocolate onto prepared sheet.
• Using a flat spatula, spread chocolate out on wax paper until it's about 1/4" thick.
• Place unwrapped caramels and milk in a medium-sized bowl. Microwave for about 30 seconds, then remove and stir. Microwave again for 30 seconds, then stir until caramel is smooth and creamy (you may need to throw it back into the microwave for another 30 seconds so it can be super creamy).
• Drizzle melted caramel over chocolate, then top with chopped pecans. If desired, drizzle with additional melted chocolate.
• Place bark in the fridge for 30-45 minutes so that it can set up.
• When it has hardened, remove from fridge and use a sharp knife to chop into large pieces (or you can use your hands to break it into small pieces).